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IHale, Emilyand TSE attend The Gondoliers;f4 have got two tickets for ‘The Gondoliers’ for Monday the 3d June. They are very good seats, butO'Donovan, Brigidbooks TSE tickets to Gondoliers;a5 owing to the astuteness of Miss O’Donovan, whoSadler's Wells Theatre;a8 remembered that six months ago the manager had offered me seats at Sadlers’ Wells whenever I wanted them (I think in consequence of my having given his staff copies of ‘The Rock’ rather than of my being a member of the Sadlers’ Well Society Executive Committee) I have got them free, so that we shall have that much more to spend on something else. I have not yet settled on entertainments for the 4th and 5th; and I wish you would look at your Sunday paper, and make up your mind what you want to see or hear, and let me know by Monday.
I am at the moment rather sorry for myself, because in addition to my slowly healing heel I have had a sudden attack of haemorrhoids, and the wisdom tooth which had quietened down a few days ago when I went to my dentist this week, has started into activity again, and I expect I shall have it out early next week. But I shall be as fit as a fiddle by the time you see me.
OnMurder in the Cathedral1935 Canterbury Festival production;d7in rehearsal;a1 Monday I go to my first chorus rehearsal at the Albert Hall, and on Thursday the 6th I go down to Canterbury for a night to see how they are getting on. YesterdayBrowne, Elliott Martin1935 Canterbury Murder in the Cathedral;a5lunches with TSE and Speaight;a6 ISpeaight, Roberttalked through part of Becket by TSE;a4 had lunch with Martin Browne and Bobby Speaight, and ran through his part with them afterwards, explaining a few passages which the syntax makes ambiguous. I enclose a letter from Speaight – it is pleasant, and a good omen to have a leading man who is so keen on his part.1
TheCummings, Constance;a1 English actress who took Eleanor’s play is named Constance Cummings.2 Do you know anything about her?
It seems a very long time since I saw you, but I am looking forward excitedly to the 3d. TheMorleys, the;e2 Morleys are outside of the picture for three weeks, as Christina has just taken Donald to Devon for three weeks. They will be back in time for Canterbury, andHale, Emilyvisit to the Russian ballet;f5 I hope to get them and you for the Ballet after that. ForFabers, the;c3 a preliminary ballet I might get the Fabers – or not just as you prefer. But it is time I entertained them, and the Ballet is a very safe thing to take people to – a new play one is never sure of, and one is never sure of people’s likes, but anyone who has been to the ballet before knows what he is going to get.
I have been wondering how you find life in Campden after a little more time with three relatives instead of two. I hope that it is not more exhausting all the time, and that you do spare yourself and can form an ascetic determination not to be uselessly unselfish. But I am doubtful.
TomorrowHayward, Johntaken for walk;d1 I am to take John for a ‘walk’ in his wheel chair, if fine, as his young lady friend who does that for him is away for the weekend.3 ThenCulpin, Johanna ('Aunt Johanna', née Staengel)leaving for Germany;b1 I have to sup with Jan Culpin, who is leaving for Germany very soon; andPivot Club;a2 on Sunday night I have to dine with the Pivot Club – an organisation of Miss Fogerty’s graduates.
1.SpeaightSpeaight, Robertexcited at TSE's dramatic ambitions;a5n to TSE, 21 May 1935: ‘This is just to say how tremendously pleased I am to be acting in your play at Canterbury. No words can describe my admiration for your work – it seems to me one of the most important departures of play-writing in recent years, and the most successful attempt we have had to restore poetry to the Theatre. I am sure that Browne will handle it with great insight & it should make a very profound impression. My wife, who admires it as much as I do, joins me in looking forward to meeting you in the near future.’
2.ConstanceCummings, Constance Cummings (1910–2005), American-born British stage and screen actor.
3.Not identified. Probably not Elaine Finlay (with whom Hayward had enjoyed a close friendship since his student days); and perhaps not Joséfa Shiras, a newer friend from New York. See Smart, Tarantula’s Web.
4.E. MartinBrowne, Elliott Martin Browne (1900–80), English director and producer, was to direct the first production of Murder in the Cathedral: see Biographical Register.
2.ConstanceCummings, Constance Cummings (1910–2005), American-born British stage and screen actor.
11.JohnHayward, John Davy Hayward (1905–65), editor and critic: see Biographical Register.
3.BrigidO'Donovan, Brigid O’Donovan, TSE’s secretary from Jan. 1935 to Dec. 1936: see Biographical Register.
2.RobertSpeaight, Robert Speaight (1904–77), actor, producer and author, was to create the role of Becket in Murder in the Cathedral in 1935: see Biographical Register.